NFL Betting at America’s Bookie — New QB For Texans, New/Old One For Cardinals Going Forward

By Charles Jay


Down Texas way, there’s a new guy in the saddle for the Houston
Texans, as first-year coach Bill O’Brien feels he can do better than Ivy
League graduate Ryan Fitzpatrick. Here it’s another Ryan, with the last
name of Mallett, who will be getting the chance to make his first NFL
start. Mallett was acquired in a trade in the latter stages of training
camp, and the feeling was that the Texans would give him a shot at being
the “quarterback of the future.” Well, the future is now, as George
Allen used to say. Mallett has thrown just four passes in the NFL, and
he certainly hopes that he get some help out of his backfield. Whenever
America’s Bookie customers evaluate Houston’s chances, it starts with
people like JJ Watt, but also running back Arian Foster, who is now
suffering with a groin injury, and will probably be a gametime decision
as to whether he plays or not. This is not good news for the young,
green quarterback. The Cleveland Browns are the opponents, and all they
have done in Mike Pettine’s first year at the helm is go 6-3
straight-up, that coming after a masterful road win at Cincinnati. Now
they have a few extra days to prepare. Let’s take note of the numbers
here; in the latest NFL betting odds
that are posted at America’s Bookie, Cleveland is a three-point
favorite, with a total of 40.5 points (1 PM ET). The Browns have played
five straight games under the total, and we don’t really know what to
expect out of Houston, especially if they have to go without Foster.


The Chicago Bears really need to bounce back, or else Marc Trestman
could find himself on the hot seat, if he’s not there already. The Bears
have not only been beaten three games in a row, they have been
thoroughly dominated in those games. The defense is a shambles, as the
team is given up 106 points in the last two contests. Granted, they were
playing against teams with very sharp quarterbacks (New England and
Green Bay), and this week they go up against a rookie in Teddy
Bridgewater of the Minnesota Vikings. But Chicago hasn’t really been
able to show any home field advantage, covering only one of its last
nine games at Soldier Field. Minnesota comes into this game with three
straight covering efforts, and that included last week’s 29-26 victory
over Washington. Chicago lays points but is only a 2.5-point favorite at
America’s Bookie in this game (the total is 46 points for this 1 PM. ET
start).


One of the more intriguing games involves the Kansas City Chiefs, who
seem to be doing all the right things fundamentally and now play host
to the Seattle Seahawks (1 PM ET). Seattle, as we know, is not really
been the team we saw last season, but they showed some power last week
against the New York Giants, running for 350 yards in a three-touchdown
victory. Of course, the Giants were tied with them at one point in the
second half. For those NFL bettors like to look at the technical side of
things, Kansas City has covered eight straight games. That’s simple.
And they have also limited opponents to 34.5% success on third down.
That’s the kind of thing that will help you win games. So will keeping
the ball out of the other teams hands, and Alex Smith has thrown only
two interceptions in his last eight starts. Kansas City is a 1.5-point
favorite in the sportsbook betting odds at America’s Bookie.


As far as the late games go, the one that could be the most
intriguing is not the one between Philadelphia and Green Bay, but one
that matches a couple of division leaders, as the Detroit Lions visit
the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has the best record in the league at the
moment (8-1 straight-up), and maybe it’s no wonder, as they have turned
the ball over only six times. Now they face a challenge with quarterback
Carson Palmer out for the season with a knee injury. Drew Stanton got
three starts earlier in the season, but completed less than 50% of his
passes. He goes up against the team that leads the NFL’s defensive
rankings, and which stifled Miami last week. This is a great “strength
versus strength” matchup, and really, the strength on the part of both
teams is defense, although Calvin Johnson, recently returned from
injury, would like to throw his two cents in there for sure. Detroit has
won four games in a row; Arizona has won five straight. Considering the
quarterback change, this game is listed as a pick at America’s Bookie,
with the total at 41 points (4:25 PM ET start at University of Phoenix
Stadium).

NFL Betting at America’s Bookie — New QB For Texans, New/Old One For Cardinals Going Forward